Hi everyone, here I am again, with the fifth chapter of The Hanahaki Disease; A Variant. I hope you will enjoy it.
Conor was dreaming. He knew it, because the sensation he felt now was one he always felt whenever he dreamed.
It was dark around him, like a representation of his mood. He turned around, trying to find a bit of light, even if it was just in the slightest. His old self was coming back, the cheerful, optimistic Conor and he couldn't stand the dark.
But the light that came was so bright that Conor was blinded by it. He shielded his eyes with his hand, turning away but the light was everywhere. With a cry he fell onto his knees, hands covering his face.
When he could open his eyes again he was looking straight at a boy. The light cascaded off him slowly and when Conor could see him clearly his heart stopped for a moment.
Shane.
'Yes Conor,' the boy said. Had he said that out loud?
'Get up,' Shane commanded. Slowly Conor scrambled onto his feet, planting them firmly in the ground and telling Shane. 'I don't know how you're alive but...' He couldn't finish his sentence as Shane reached forward his hand and as if he had an invisible hand lengthener Conor felt his mouth shut.
'I'm not alive,' Shane spoke spitefully. 'I was killed and nothing can change that. However Conor, you are alive. And Abeke,' 'Don't say her name,' Conor wanted to sneer at Shane but he found himself still incapable of speaking. 'she is in between us. In between the land of the dead and the living.'
Shane sighed. 'I care for her Conor. You might not believe it but I do. And she knows I do. So don't be too convinced of winning her over easily when you reach the Evertree. I will do everything that is in my might to have her.'
'Conor! Conor!' Conor felt himself roughly shaken by a pair of hands. He shrugged them off as he opened his eyes, looking around bewildered. Rollan and Meilin were standing beside him, looking worried. It had been Rollan who had shaken him.
'Yes?' He questioned, falling back into his grumpy mood. Until he remembered his dream.
'What was going on?' Rollan asked. 'Your eyes were half closed and you were shaking.'
'I had a dream,' Conor exclaimed, jumping to his feet and starting pacing. 'Shane was in it and he told me Abeke was in between the land of the dead and the living. She needs to chose between it and we need to go to the Evertree again.' Conor turned around to stare at Meilin and Rollan. 'We need to go to the Evertree,' he repeated. 'Quickly!' He exclaimed.
Meilin and Rollan shared a look. 'Conor,' Meilin started but he didn't allow her to finish. 'We need to go! Abeke's life depends on it!'
Meilin sighed. 'I suppose you have a point then.'
'Let's go,' Conor exclaimed. He was too excited to sit still and wait any longer.
Rollan frowned. 'Maybe we should tell Olvan and Lenori about going though first and then collect some supplies and all for the journey.'
'Yes,' Conor waved it off dismissively. 'You go and arrange that. We must leave before the day is over however. We don't have much time.'
When Meilin and Rollan were walking on the small hallway in the infirmary together again Meilin spoke up first. 'Conor is behaving strangely.'
Rollan shrugged. 'I suppose. But I trust him when he says we have to go to the Evertree to save Abeke. We at least have to try.'
Meilin nodded. 'Of course. He's just behaving strange.' She knocked on the door of the second special room.
'Come in,' Olvan's voice called out.
Meilin pushed open the door. Lenori was sitting on the bed, her skin no longer as frighteningly pale anymore and her eyes shining and full of life. About Olvan, who was sitting next to the bed, Meiln could say the same. That was good, she decided. If it worked at the Evertree Abeke could be saved too. And hopefully Conor as well.
'How are you?' She asked, mainly directing her question at Lenori.
The older woman smiled warmly. 'I'm fine now. Much better already.' Meilin nor Rollan missed the sideway glance towards Olvan filled with an emotion that neither of them had ever seen before in her eyes. Love.
'Good,' Meilin stated. 'Conor had a dream.' She decided to not beat around the bush and just state straightforward what their plan was. 'He thinks he can save Abeke at the Evertree. From Shane or something.'
'Shane?' Olvan repeated, brow furrowing.
Rollan sighed. 'He was being a little... strangely excited about it and didn't really explain a lot but what we get is that Shane has something to do with this and that Abeke is in the land between the living and the dead. I don't know but Conor is extremely sure of himself and he has to get going apparently. If we don't hurry up I think he'll leave, with Abeke on his back.'
'In the land between the living and the dead?' Lenori repeated.
Meilin nodded.
'What if Shane is the dead and Conor is the living,' she suggested. 'And Abeke is somewhere in between them.'
Meilin gasped. 'Of course. She has to choose who she wants to be with.'
'Conor seems sure he will be the one she chooses,' Rollan commented. 'Anyway, Conor wants to leave and we wanted to let you know where we're going.'
'Very well. Good luck,' Olvan told them.
'Thank you,' Meilin said. She pulled Rollan with her out of the room.
'What was that for?' Rollan questioned.
'Nothing. Come on, Conor is waiting and we don't want him to leave with Abeke on his back.' Meilin chuckled as she walked off.
Rollan was staring at her Meilin knew. And she also didn't miss his 'Girls.'
They were finally on the road. It had taken hours before Meilin and Rollan were apparently ready to go. If it had been down to Conor he would just leave straight away. This was about Abeke's life which was definitely more important than gathering unnecessary supplies.
But they were on the road. Meilin and Rollan were riding a few meters behind him. Abeke was lying over his horse, completely lifeless. It scared Conor and every now and then he felt for her wrist, just to be sure she was still breathing.
A part of him knew he would reach the Evertree and that he would see Shane there with a still semi living Abeke but another part of him was just too afraid that she would die before he reached the Evertree.
Conor glanced backwards. Meilin and Rollan were catching up with him. He let out a relieved breath. Everything would be alright.
The towering tree in front of her was just as magnificent as every other time Meilin had seen it.
'So? Where do we have to go now?' Rollan asked Conor.
Conor seemed insecure. He looked around, frowning. 'I... I don't know. Shane just told me to get at the Evertree.' He turned around, looked up then glanced back at Abeke who was still draped over Conor's horse. Conor must have seen something neither Meilin nor Rollan saw because his gaze suddenly hardened. 'Stay away from her!' He shouted, racing for Abeke.
Meilin didn't know what happened next, for she and Rollan were blown off their feet at a sudden fierce wind blew against them. She covered her head with her hands and closed her eyes.
For how long she stayed crouched down in that position Meilin had no idea, only that after some time she felt a hand against her arm. She glanced sideways, seeing Rollan. He half pointed forward. His arm was beaten around furiously by the wind but when Meilin looked up she understood what he had wanted her to see.
A bright, piercing light. Abeke lifted in the air, still seeming as lifeless as she had the past days. And Conor, standing stock still on the ground with his back turned to them.
Another fierce wind blew Meilin against Rollan. He wrapped his arms around her when it happened, shielding her body using his own. Usually Meilin wouldn't want him to do that, but now she couldn't care less. She needed this now.
'If we survive this,' she shouted over to Rollan. 'I swear I will worship the love goddess for the rest of my life.'
Rollan looked into her eyes deeply and for a moment Meilin was lost in the intensity of his gaze. Then he bent forward and kissed her and Meilin was lost in general.
There was no wind anymore, just the two of them alone in their own world as they kissed. And in Meilin's opinion, it could stay like this forever.
So what did you think of this? I believe there will be one more chapter of this story and then an epilogue chapter. And btw, to komodovaran, I am working on the next chapter of Reading the Books. I just kind of forgot it for a long time so that's not really good from me, but the next chapter is coming up sometime. Bye.